Ronald McDonald House (RMH) Westside LA announced that it has received a $1 million gift from The Rafael and Sharyl Mendez Family Foundation to help support the creation of a Ronald McDonald House on Hilgard Avenue in Westwood Village. The House fills a critical gap in children’s healthcare on the Westside by providing a local, safe haven where families can remain close to their hospitalized child during one of the most emotionally and physically challenging times of their lives — all at no cost to the family.
“We share a deep belief in the importance of this House and in the comfort it will provide — a real home away from home for families who need to stay close to their child during lifesaving medical treatment,” said Nicole Mendez. “When I saw the opportunity to support the Westside LA House, I knew our family foundation was the right vehicle to make a truly impactful gift. Being able to give in that way, together as a family, made the gift all the more meaningful.”
RMH Westside LA is currently engaged in a $50 million capital campaign to support the acquisition and transformation of a former boutique hotel in the heart of Westwood Village into a 33,000-square-foot, four-story Ronald McDonald House. Purposefully designed to provide comfort, care and support, the House will serve as a welcoming home away from home for families with children receiving critical medical treatment nearby. It will become the seventh Ronald McDonald House in the Southern California Chapter and will serve families and children who are receiving treatment at UCLA Children’s Hospital, Cedars-Sinai Guerin Children’s and other Westside medical facilities. At present, UCLA Children’s Hospital is the last major children’s hospital in California without a nearby RMH.
“Thanks to good-hearted donors like the Mendez Family Foundation, no family who stays in our House will pay anything for lodging or an array of important family support services,” said Kelly Herman, executive director of RMH Westside LA. “We are deeply grateful to the Mendez Family whose generosity will leave a lasting legacy of kindness in the community.”
Commensurate with their donation, both the rooftop lounge and the welcoming reception area in the new House will be named in the Mendez Family Foundation’s honor.
Herman says that when completed the new House will welcome up to 33 families at a time and serve over 800 people annually. It will become an integral part of RMH SoCal, which for almost 50 years has been committed to serving families through essential services that remove barriers, strengthen families and promote healing. With a global reach that supports communities throughout the world, last year alone RMH helped families save $783 million in lodging and meal expenses throughout 62 countries and regions.
Although McDonald’s remains Ronald McDonald House Charities’ “founding and forever” partner, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern California is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with McDonald’s support accounting for just 10-15% of its annual budget. Consequently, RMH Westside LA relies on the generosity of the community to bring this House to life and sustain its operations for years to come.
“Staying at Ronald McDonald House has been shown to not only significantly improve the mental health of families by reducing stress and anxiety but also improve the medical outcomes and overall hospital experience for their children. That is why it is so critical that this House be built as a vital and much-needed community resource,” said Herman. “Our expression of ‘Keeping Families Close’ is more than just a saying — it is our guiding principle rooted in the belief that families belong together, especially during a child’s medical crisis, and that no one should endure their toughest days alone.”
For further information on the Westside LA Ronald McDonald House and how to support the fundraising effort, including a host of customized naming opportunities, contact Betsy Jeu De Vine at BJeuDeVine@rmhcsc.org.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260709959530/en/
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